Deb

Is there any particular reason that you wish to use french seams?
I am with Melanie on this one,I am sure it could be done but it would be bulky.
How about lining the skirt?
~Nicole~

Cotton voile is lovely for a special outfit.
For everyday lining I use a cotton rich poplin.
Lots of pretty colours and it needs little pressing.

Happy to enable!
I blogged the construction so if you would like to ‘try before you buy’ http://www.flickr.com/photos/motherof5/sets/72157625559687392/
My 8 year old Lidia has only just stopped fitting in hers and whilst she is skinny she had quite a broad back and I generally cut the size 7 width in tops for her.
The skirt would be ever so easy…[Read more]

Yep I agree that polyester lining is temperamental to sew with but lots and lots of pinning is required to keep it all together – I use a rotary cutter to cut it out so the fraying isn’t as bad. I still prefer natural fibres when lining this dress because of the stubborness of the poly fabrics.

Oh this is so funny. I just came back from the fabric store and said to my husband, I am having trouble deciding which fabric I want to use.
Sarah Jane’s balloon fabric is perfect for a birthday party dress.
I am dreaming of a small scale animal print with a contrasting piping around arm neck and waist for a snappy casual dress ala the 1950s.
I…[Read more]

Lisa, we have metric conversions for all our patterns available on the website. Go to the shop section and find the pattern you are using. You can click on the green tab for “size chart” toward the bottom of the page. This will give you the info in both English and metric measurements.

Thanks Liesl, I cut it out anyway, remembering that it is buttoning at the shoulder. Had to check and ask first though just in case.
Tamara

Thanks Liesl, I cut it out anyway, remembering that it is buttoning at the shoulder. Had to check and ask first though just in case.
Tamara

I don’t have the pattern in front of me at present, but if memory serves correctly the notch at the top of the sleeve matches the front yoke instead of the shoulder. Hope that helps!

I buy my McCalls interfacing when I have a coupon,it is usually $12/m.
Well worth it.
~Nicole~

Kaufman claims it’s the same, and I imagine that they’d be careful about protecting the reputation of their brand:
http://www.swatchandstitch.com/all-about-kona/2010/9/21/what-is-kona-cotton.html

I read somewhere that the “Kona” at Joann’s isn’t the same as Kaufman’s. Anyone know about this?

Oooh a fellow West Aussie! If you have a country spotlight then be aware they don’t get everything in – my local had something like 2 bolts! The bigger places like Midland and the one near Carousel would have more. So if you are in the rural areas, make a list and maybe phone one of the city stores to find out? and then grab some on a city visit.…[Read more]

Oooh a fellow West Aussie! If you have a country spotlight then be aware they don’t get everything in – my local had something like 2 bolts! The bigger places like Midland and the one near Carousel would have more. So if you are in the rural areas, make a list and maybe phone one of the city stores to find out? and then grab some on a city visit.…[Read more]

Hi Gillibeanz!
Spotlight carry the Lisette fabric range, which is also designed by O+S. The Oliver +S fabric is not readily available here….. :-(. I think most of us buy it online from the US (places like QuiltHome and Fat Quarter Shop probably have the best range.) Some smaller places sell it too, and a couple of Aus online places stock…[Read more]

Hi Gillibeanz!
Spotlight carry the Lisette fabric range, which is also designed by O+S. The Oliver +S fabric is not readily available here….. :-(. I think most of us buy it online from the US (places like QuiltHome and Fat Quarter Shop probably have the best range.) Some smaller places sell it too, and a couple of Aus online places stock…[Read more]

Wendyls, I’m glad you are enjoying your new serger. All I can say is that you can feel free to practise “speeding” without the worry of getting pulled over, fined and the like – you may be in for accidental needle breakages though but this is the only warning so I will let you off just this once hehe!
Did your dealer offer a free lesson to take…[Read more]

Bumped -baby baby!

Sometimes they have things on special to remove old stock. Maybe they are releasing a newer version? Bernina seems to have a big price tag attached to all their machines yet some would say this is because of paying for the quality. I can’t be the judge of that as I have never tried and tested a Bernina – although my maternal grandmother loves them…[Read more]

I’m fairly certain you wouldn’t need them–they’re really more of a design detail to define the shoulder/armhole than to hold the two layers together. Just be sure to smooth and pin and you should be fine without the topstitching. Can’t wait to see!